I have come across a product which I am told would do wonders for people that need dialysis. It is basically a pouch that is affixed to the body to cover any catheters or inputs that enable dialysis. its sole purpose is to allow for safe showering and even swimming. Does anyone have any feelings on this. Any input would be appreciated.
Hi Steve, That sounds like the CD-1000 (formerly called the Shower catheter access protector (C.A.P.), which was a bit more catchy.) You can read about it & contact the company from this link: http://www.sdaproduct.com/CD-1000_Product_Composite_Dressing.htm.
There’s also something more like a raincoat for the upper body, called Korshield, which deflects water away from a dialysis catheter. You can learn about that new product at: http://www.korshield.com/.
If you contact either or both of those companies, tell them you’d like to see them in the Helpful Products Catalog on Home Dialysis Central, at http://www.homedialysis.org/v1/hpc/catalog.shtml! It will make them easier to find and raise the chances that folks will use their products.
…and here’s the Korshield photo.
What’s the point of a Shower if you cover up! There has got to be something that can cover the catheter area and still have the enjoyment of a shower.
Why is it that people with PD can shower? They have a catheter hanging out.
I use saran wrap and tape and do pretty well. Then I blow dry the area.
Instead of telling us “Not To Take a Shower” they need to help us learn how to do it right.
Rurun, I was just showing the options so people can see what’s out there–it’s up to them to decide if one of them might work. The one on top (CD-1000) only covers up the catheter.
When I had a catheter during my first couple of months of hemodialysis, I never-ever thought of taking a shower. I knew how easy it was to get an infection. I always took a bath, making sure that the area where the catheter was never got immersed into the water. An infection in your dialysis catheter is not a fun experience.
PD catheters are different. For one, the catheter goes into the peritoneum, whereas a hemodialysis catheter goes directly into a blood vessel. A blood vessel is many times more susceptible to getting an infection than the peritoneum is. Taking a shower with a PD catheter is also much less risky, because most PD catheters typically face down, so there is less chance of water from a shower getting into the peritoneum. (At least that is what my PD training nurse told me.)